White Sails – Demis Roussos
Posted on 09. Sep, 2009 in Greek Songs
Demis Roussos, the renowned Greek singer sings White Sails, a song that surprisingly became a big hit abroad.
I have to tell a small personal story here; one day, dining at a Greek Restaurant in the US – packed with Americans – i heard this song. Ignorant completely regarding this version of the song, i stated that it’s a famous Greek Song called ‘Aspra kokkina kitrina mple” (which means White, red, yellow blue). To my great surprise, some of the American clients and my American friends started singing the lyrics of “white sails” being in a rather dancing and cheerful mood.
Apparently, as they told me later, Roussos is much beloved in the US and White sails is considered one of the top Greek songs played there. I have to say that i liked the idea – sometimes having a popular Greek Song traveling to the other side of the Ocean and having a second – and international!- career even if it has English Lyrics, is actually nice.
White Sails, or if you prefer, Aspra Kokkina Kitrina, is a hasaposerviko song, with a fast and frantic rhythm – especially in its English Version. We promise we will play the Greek Version too in an upcoming post!
Music: Dimos Moutsis
English Lyrics: Demis Roussos
Performed by: Demis Roussos
White Sails – English Lyrics
White sails… White sails…
Mast running high,
run and knock on every door
tell the women not to cry…
Here they come…
I can see most everyone,
In the early morning sun
I can hear the sing from men.
See how they conquered the wind and the ocean waves…
See how they stand so mighty.
One hundred days
Since they went far beyond the sea
Leaving us an empty chantey…
How many tears did we cried
Waiting for this day,
In our dark imagination…
How many hopes of return do they now fulfilled
In this happy celebration.
White sails… White sails…
Mast running high,
run and knock on every door
tell the women not to cry…
Here they come…
I can see most everyone,
In the early morning sun
I can hear the sing from men.
In marry churchs bells of echo in every home…
Spread the good news around you.
Tell everyone that the men have at last returned…
And that every wish has come true.
How many days did we pray for each one of them
In our lonely expectation…
How many hopes of return do they now fulfilled
In this happy celebration.
White sails… White sails…
Mast running high,
run and knock on every door
tell the women not to cry…
Here they come…
I can see most everyone,
In the early morning sun
I can hear the sing from men.
